The Osceola times., 1887-10-22
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. c. Oct. 13, 1887.
tFrom Our Regular Correspondent


peror Augustus, that he had found
Rome built of brick and left it built
of mai ble--the chief glory of that
great Empires golden age; and in
modern times, il we are to believe
those who, as if by a magic wand,
have performed the wonderful feat
of converting Alexander r. Shep-
herd from vulgar political boss
who was, while Governor Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, during the reign
Of Grantism, check by jowl with
Bsbcock, Belknap, and other cor
ruptionists-into demi- god, upon
whom they have conferred the uniq-
ue distinction of canonization ere he
has shufiled of this mortal COLL"
we have u parallel case. for it is
claimed that St. Shepherd found
Washington a wild waste Of mud
and left it the most beautiful city in
the United States. And if you had
suddenly come into the Federal Cap
ital on Thursday night, Oct. 6, 1887,
you would have shrunk aghast at the
awful din and glare and smoke and
sound Of music, supposing that you
had been accidentally switched off
into the very centre of pandemoni-
um-but nothing of the kind, dear
reader-you would simply have been
disgusted spectator Of ST. Shep-
herds triumpbal torchlight process
sion and general parade of all the
Shepherdites and truculent toadies
to be found In the broad borders of
Washington. The Boss-1 beg par
don, the Saint--gave Washington
smooth solid streets and shaded,
grassy parks-to say nothing of a
glorious public debt of many mil
lions, therefore perhaps, majority
of the Washingtonians worship him
as the patron saint aud savior of the
city. They have not yet proposed
to change the name of Washington
to Shepherdton, but such a thing is
quite probable, for one enthusiast
has nominated Shepherd for Presi-
dent of the United States. How
much better and more christian like
it would have been to have contrib
uted to the poor, whom we always
have with us, The ten thousand dol
lars squandered in glorifying Shep-
herd.
Thoughts Of another prominent
Republican now come to miud-the
unsavory Bacon, who was spoiled on
the hands of his party, and who, as
financial clerk, despoiIed the Patent
Office of $4,000, according to the
report of the Commissioner Of Pat.
ents, which has just been submitted
to the Secretary Of the Interior. The
amount Of the defalcation is much
larger than had been supposed, and
furnished the strongest of arguments
for turning the rascals out. Bacon
had been stealing thirteen years, and
was not detected until an undertak-
er's call was imperative.
The October term of the United
States Supreme Court convenes this
week, with a docket largely increas-
ed over that of last year. Among the
cases Of note, | will mention two
the celebrated Myra Clark Gaines
litigation against the City of New
Orleans, and the famous telephone
case.
The day before the meeting ofthe
Court was consumed by the Bar OF
the Supreme Court in eulogizing the
late Justice Woods.
Secretary Lamar continues to re-
verse the indemnity railroad land
decisions of Commissioner Sparks
the Secretary's last over-ruling hav-
ing restored $4,000 acres to the
Omaha road.
Secretary Lamar now secludes
himself from unwelcome visitors up
on the plea that he is absorbed iii
preparing his annual report.
The National Republican Execu'
tive Committee will soon meet in
New York or Washington tc arrange
the preliminaries for the meeting OF
the National Convention-the Com
mi,tee being to convene six month:
before the assembling Of the Con,
vention. Chicago, New York and
Saratoga are always in the field fol
the honor, and some there are who
favor Washington.
The limit for purchasing fourteen
millions Of bonds under the Treasu
rer's September circular expired OF
the 9Th inst, the total sales to tina
date amounting to @l3,376,85O
which is 1923, $50 less than the cal
demanded for the purposes Of tn
sinking fund. What the future poll
cy of the Treasury on the question
OF bonds will be, the Secretary de